Sydney University Athletics Club member Connor Whiteley set a new club record for the men’s 1500m competing in the recent NSW Milers Series at The Crest Athletics Centre, Bankstown.
The B.Economics student and member of the Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness Elite Athlete Program ran a personal best of 3:36.19 in finishing sixth in the event. The race was won by Cameron Myers in 3:33.30, from Jesse Hunt on 3:33.64, with Jake Wightman of Great Britain finishing third in 3:34.31.
Whiteley has been building towards the PB this season. He won the men’s 1500m at the ACT Under 20 Open Championships, run at the AIS Athletics Track on January 28. His time of 3:40.67 edged out Benjamin Thomas (3:41.27) and Joesph Deng (3:43.00) for the minor placings.
And he backed that up with a 3:39.27 run in finishing sixth at the Adelaide Invitational, held at South Australia Stadium on February 10. That race was also won by Cameron Myers in 3:34.55 from Jesse Hunt (3:35.70) and Jye Edwards (3:36.27).
Whiteley is one of a number of SUAC members who is a Target Paris beneficiary, a follow-up program from the successful Target Tokyo program which was launched in 2017 to provide assistance to athletes with the best chance of making international teams and the Tokyo Olympic Games. A record 12 SUAC athletes represented Australia at Tokyo.
The Target Paris program is supporting over 30 SUAC student athletes competing on the international stage.
